Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 11
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani severely criticized domestic opponents of the nuclear talks with world powers, calling them "political cowards."
Some people inside the country who are afraid of interaction with the world are promoting "negotiation phobia" Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying Aug.11.
The president made the remarks while addressing the annual meeting of ambassadors and representatives of Iran abroad.
Rouhani also said some groups even are scared of "heroic flexibility," echoing Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statements.
Khamenei previously stated that he is "not opposed to diplomacy," adding that he believes in an idea called "heroic flexibility."
Many analysts called the statement as "green light" to Rouhani whose foreign policy is challenged by hard-liners in the country.
Rouhani also appreciated Iran's nuclear negotiation team and foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying "today, the persons who lead Iran's diplomacy are among the world's top diplomats."
He went on to add that Khamenei also supports Iran's nuclear negotiating team.
Rouhani reiterated that Iran is not in a hurry to achieve a comprehensive nuclear deal with the West, however he added that delay on agreement will impose losses on both parties.
Iran and the P5+1 (the United States, France, UK, Russia, China and Germany) are holding talks to reach a final agreement aimed at resolving the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.
The two sides signed an interim deal in Geneva last November. The agreement entered into force January 20 and expired six months later July 20.
In July, Tehran and the six states agreed to extend their discussions until November 24 in a bid to work out a final accord.